We live in a world in which being successful is held high as the ultimate goal to be achieved. Worldly success is often measured by the amount of power, popularity, control, and achievements we attain. Life can be a game of competition with the underlying motto, “He who has the most toys wins!” It is human nature to want to win!
In a commencement address given at McGill University in Montreal, Rudyard Kipling (author and poet 1865-1936) warned students against having an over-concern for money, power, or popularity. He said, “Someday you will meet a man who cares for none of these things. Then you will know how poor you are.”
Recently at my daughter’s graduation, a story titled “The Investment Banker and the Fisherman” was presented. It was a powerful parable reminder that success and happiness have little to do with fame and fortune—power or control. Wealth, power, control, and status may momentarily help us to escape emptiness, but they cannot cure it. We run into trouble when the only thing we are living for is success that is self-serving.
True success is only achieved when we find joy in the present—the simple moments spent loving and serving our family and friends, children and grandchildren. Ultimately, love of family and our faith are the only things of importance that bring lasting fulfillment in a world geared toward gain. These are the precious gifts we take with us when we return to our Heavenly home.
We honor our children—our posterity of whom we have always been proud—through good times and tough. You play together, help one another, and care for each other in times of need. And you lovingly devote your time and talents to us—your parents, as well. In this, we are eternally grateful. You make our lives successful!
The Investment Banker and the Fisherman
The fisherman replied, “Only a little while.”
The banker then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish? The fisherman said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The banker then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.”
The investor scoffed, “I am an Ivy League MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, and eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats.“ The investor continued, “And instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would then sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution! You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then Los Angeles and eventually New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The fisherman asked, “But how long will this all take?”
To which the banker replied, “Perhaps 15 to 20 years.”
“But what then?” asked the fisherman.
The banker laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions!”
“Millions. Okay, then what?” wondered the fisherman.
To which the investment banker replied, “Then you would retire. You could move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.” ~ Author Unknown
"Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of filling a vacuum, it makes one."
~ Benjamin Franklin
~ Benjamin Franklin
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